How To Plant Cactus In Pots Without Drainage Holes?

When you hear the word cactus plant, it comes to your mind that it needs well-drained growing conditions. That is correct; however, we can grow cactus in pots without a drainage hole. You may definitely see some of the fancy projects, growing cactus in a glass bowl or jags, and mugs.

These plants require minimum level humidity, water. Hence, we have to pay more attention to the plants’ moisture condition. If the cactus root kept too much moisture, it would end with root rots. Finally, the plant may die. It is a well know less maintain the ornamental plant.

The biggest challenge that you face when growing plants without drainage holes containers is watering. If you add very little water, it may be overwatering in this condition because there is no method to flow out the excess water from the pot.

Do cacti need drainage holes?

Cactus can grow without drain holes in pots. When growing cactus without drainage holes pots, you must strictly pay more attention to the watering pattern. Cactus thrive in a well-draining soil mixture with good moisture absorbs materials like perlite, activated charcoal. If the potting mix does not contain any moisture retain material, you can grow cactus without drainage holes.

How to keep Cactus alive without drainage holes?

When growing the cactus on bottom sealed containers, you have to use the correct potting mix. You cannot use regular cactus soil recipes for planting them on no drainage hole containers. Also, it requires a special watering system and pattern.

How do you water cactus without drainage holes?

When growing cactus without drainage holes, you cannot water them just like an ordinary plant. This is a special situation, and you have to use special equipment. Using a water spray bottle, you can water directly spray to the soil. It will ensure that plant receives enough moisture. When spraying to the leaves, there is a high possibility to evaporate water without reaching the soil.

Soil recipe for cactus in no drainage holes pots.

Unlike planting cactus on regular pots, drain holes post you have to use special soil. In this soil recipe, you should not use any moisture repel materials like peat moss. If you use garden soil, you cannot enhance the drainage inside the pot. Hence, we have to use large particle size materials.

• Gravel or coarse sand 40%.
• Perlite, pumice 20%.
• Activated charcoal 20%.
• Pebble or small rock chips 20%.

Cactus Soil recipe ingredients in detail.

Gravel or coarse sand: These materials provide a growing medium for the plant. Not only has that, but it also made stability to the plant. These rough materials do not absorb moisture. When growing cactus in no drainage hole pots, these large particle size materials add more value.

Perlite, Pumice: These materials absorb excess moisture. It is a crucial ingredient. Pumice cannot find easily, but it has more durability than perlite. You can read more about perlite or pumice for succulents.

Activated Charcoal: This is another water-absorbing material. Not only that, it can release moisture when the moisture reduces. Besides, charcoal prevents root rot. Therefore, this is a necessary ingredient for non-drain hole pots cactus soil mix.

Pebbles or small rock chips: These materials can use for decoration purposes and make the plant stable on small pots.

How to plant cactus in pots without drainage holes.

When you make cactus soil for pots without holes, you have to use special ingredients and techniques. Water absorbs keys in sealed containers. When planting cactus on without drainage holes containers, you have always kept the soil dry and light. If there is any excess water, it will collect to the bottom of the pot. Therefore underneath the container, it should have good moisture absorb materials to keep the growing medium dry. To reduce the container moisture levels, you have to add layers of several moist soak-up materials when adding the pot’s growing medium.

Soil layer recipe.

• The bottom of the pot should add a layer of rock chips.
• Then a layer of perlite with pumice. It will enhance moisture absorption.
• Then mix gravel/ coarse sand with perlite/pumice and activated charcoal. Properly mix these ingredients.
• Fill the prepared soil mixture around ¾ of the pot height.
• Then place the cactus plant on a pot and cover its root with remain soil mixture.
• At the top, add a layer of pebble.
• Spray water to the plant soil.

Some gardeners prefer to use layers of cactus soil ingredients in the container, especially when you grow the cactus on glass containers. I mean without mixing gravel, coarse sands with perlite/pumice, and activated charcoal. There is no big issue, though mixing everything will definitely improve plant growth.

How often water cactus without drainage holes pots?

When growing cactus in pots with no drainage holes, the application of water depends on climatic conditions. Spray the water directly into the soil as water cannot flow out and prevent water from evaporating. If you live in a high-temperature region, something like tropical countries, you have to water the bottom sealed pot every week. If the plant is close to the windowsill or more a bright direct sunlight area every 4- 5 days, it may need spray water. If you live in a cool climate country, every 15-20 days, spray directly to the soil. For cooler regions, spray water to the soil every 30 days. Read more about watering succulents.

Spraying water to leaves does not give benefit to the plant. Cactus absorb moisture from the root system. Therefore, water directly to the soil. Since this type of method uses to keep the pot indoors, it definitely requires less watering.

When spraying, do not apply too much. Since there are no drainage holes, most of the water cannot flow out of the container. Then it collects water at the bottom and ends up with root rot.